FARM OR COMPANY DIRECTOR

A farm director has a managerial role similar to company directors in other commercial businesses. A farm director will work with management to oversee all activities on a farm, ensuring that operation goes along with production and financial objectives. Directors have responsibility for the financial success of their company, as well as the logistics of health and safety, staffing and tax.

Large farms and agricultural companies will employ farm managers and workers where necessary, but the role of a farm director is only likely to be found on a large commercial farming company or estate. On smaller farms, the farmer will often also carry out tasks similar to a director. All types of farms in agriculture have farm directors, and their duties are largely similar.

As head of the company (excluding stakeholders) farm directors deal with a lot of the administrative tasks of the farm, including the budget, marketing, human resources, and management.

Key responsibilities of a farm director, whether on an arable or livestock farm, might include:

The planning of farm management and practices

Human resource management and hiring staff

Ensuring that the company runs to a set budget

Managing financial incomes and outgoings

Marketing and public relations of the company

Building relationships with customers and other agricultural companies

Purchasing new products, services and technologies for the business

Creating new plans to increase amounts of livestock/crops/fish etc.

Being a director of any company requires high levels of numeracy, business acumen and organisation. The farm director is also likely to be ‘the face’ of the company, so good communication skills are also a plus, especially when negotiating sales or deals with other companies and clients. An avid interest in the success of the farm is essential, as well as a dedication to running the farm according to legislations and industry requirements.